The President

In 2011 Barnstaple & District Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating its centenary and leading up to this we will be concentrating on developing our core function as the voice and ears of local business, provision of truly independent business representation and lobbying, networking and signposting for the benefit of our members and the wider business community.

We need to address the situation where the local authority has directed all their business support through North Devon Plus, bypassing the Chamber's of Commerce and other business groups. We all have a role to play in the bigger picture; it is not about competition or duplication. Partnership working is the key to getting things done as we have proven in the past and we must get back to this.

Our Chamber is leading the way and has been instrumental in the recent formation of the Northern Devon Business Group which is designed to enable all business organisation and groups accross North Devon and Torridge to regularly meet, co-ordinate activities and collaborate on joint initiatives and lobbying etc.

Phil Byers

Phil Byers
President of Barnstaple & District Chamber of Commerce